In the year 1662, amidst the fervour of Scotland's witch trials, Helen Nicolson found herself swept into the tragically common narrative of accusation and fear. Residing in the burgh of Haddington, Helen was a married woman whose life took a dramatic turn when she was implicated in one of the most expansive waves of witchcraft accusations of the era. These charges stemmed from the proclamations of a young boy named James Welch. Despite his youth precluding him from formal trial proceedings, the authorities took his confession seriously. His denunciations carried significant weight, leading to numerous accusations, among them that of Helen Nicolson.
Helen, along with many others, stood accused by Welch, whose allegations were considered credible enough to warrant the serious attention of the judicial system. The historical records do not provide elaborate details of the specific accusations levelled against Helen or the nature of her trial; however, her inclusion in Welch's pronounced indictments illuminates the indiscriminate nature of the witchcraft hysteria of the time. In this period, societal fears and suspicions often led to the persecution of individuals based on tenuous or unfounded claims, with Welch's testimony serving as a catalyst for Helen's grim brush with the justice system.